Jake Bidwell will put his friendship with Adam Forshaw to one side as Brentford prepare to face Middlesbrough in the play-offs.

The pair came through the ranks at Everton before moving to Griffin Park on loan in the 2011/12 season; deals which eventually became permanent.

After winning promotion to the Championship last season, Forshaw moved on to Wigan after a protracted summer transfer battle before joining Middlesbrough in January.

Bidwell remains good friends with the midfielder but hopes to inflict play-off pain onto Forshaw and Boro.

He told GetWestLondon: “It'll be good to see him again. He's a good mate but it all that goes out the window for the next two games.”

Middlesbrough did the double over Brentford, winning 4-0 at the Riverside Stadium in September before claiming a 1-0 victory at Griffin Park in January.

But Bidwell believes that what happened in the past 46 games means nothing and is confident the Bees can progress to Wembley.

He said: “Previous results mean nothing. Anything can happen in the play-offs.

“The first game was our worst performance of the season and the second was a 1-0 penalty. We'll fancy ourselves against anyone so anything is possible.

poll loading

Who will win the Championship play-offs?

“The more games we played the more confident we got. We don't have a weak link in the squad as we wouldn't have finished fifth.”

Brentford had not kept a clean sheet since February and their 4-0 win over an awful Blackpool side before keeping two in their last two games and Bidwell is pleased to be going into the contest with that momentum.

The full back added: “We know the attacking football leaves us open to concede goals. We've got the balance right and got the momentum to get into the play-offs.”

poll loading

Who will win Friday's play-off semi-final first leg?

500+ VOTES SO FAR

While Middlesbrough will be favourites, Bidwell refuses to let the underdog tag phase Brentford and believes the squad's recent experience of the play-offs will give them a slight advantage.

He added: “If people want to underestimate us that's up to them. Everyone knows what we're about and Middlesbrough will know we are a threat.

“We've got experience of the play-offs from League One and a lot of the squad have been there before so hopefully we can use that experience to our advantage."